Clinical and Images Assessment of Dysphagia in Acute Phase of Stroke

Objective:To investigate the clinical and imaging features of dysphagia in acute phase of stroke,and analyze the relationship between stroke location and dysphagia types.Methods:Sixty-two patients with the initial onset of acute stroke were subjected to the clinical assessment of swallowing function within 3 days after admission,and the videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)at the 7th day.The types of dysphagia and stroke locations were recorded and analyzed.According to different lesions,patients were divided into four groups:unilateral cerebral hemisphere group,bilateral cerebral hemispheres group,brain stem and cerebellum group,multiple stroke group.Results:There were 29(46.8%)patients with dysphagia in 62 cases,and the incidence in the brain stem and cerebellum group was significantly higher than other groups(P0.05).Eleven received VFSS,including 3 cases in unilateral cerebral hemisphere group,2 cases in bilateral cerebral hemisphere group,having oral-phase dysfunctions;2 cases in brain stem and cerebellum group,mostly having pharyngeal difficulties;4 cases in multiple stroke group,having oral and pharyngeal dysfunctions.Conclusion:The clinical assessment of dysphagia after stroke can understand the physiological state of swallowing in the oral phase.VFSS can define swallowing in the pharyngeal phase.To avoid complications caused by swallowing difficulties and prevent or treat dysphagia,swallowing assessment is done as soon as possible.